Carton Council aims to inspire recycling for Earth Day

The Carton Council of North America is offering tips to help people get motivated about recycling in the ramp up to Earth Day on April 22.

According to a study by the Carton Council of North America, 95% of consumers think recycling is important and that everyone should do their part. And it is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to help the environment.

To help consumers become more diligent recyclers, the council is offering the following tips based on the research:

  1. Make a Plan: Ensure that recycling is convenient for your household by having containers readily available in rooms where recyclable packages are consumed. Also, know your collection days and have enough storage to hold the recyclables until that collection day.
  2. Remind Yourself: Create reminders throughout your house, such as refrigerator magnets or handwritten notes, to prompt you about collection day or to help you stick to your recycling plan.
  3. Be a Leader: One person can inspire others to recycle. Use social media to brag about your recycling and tag your local community recycling program, homeowner’s association and even the Carton Council.
  4. Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover: Look to your community’s website for what can and can’t be recycled where you live. Acceptable items can vary depending on the program, and a little dirt or a misshapen recyclable should still go in your recycling container unless it’s covered in peanut butter or melted cheese.
  5. Feel Good About Your Efforts: Recognize that your recycling makes an impact. If no one recycled, there would be no recycled content to make new products. For example, 30 recycled food and beverage cartons are used to make a sustainable ceiling tile. A ton of paper made from recycled fibers conserves 7,000 gallons of water and 17-31 trees.

The Carton Council commissioned the study to better understand how people make decisions about recycling and what behavior changes could be made to improve recycling rates. By implementing these tips, consumers can make a difference in the environment and help create a sustainable future.

The Carton Council is composed of four carton manufacturers, Elopak, Pactiv Evergreen, SIG and Tetra Pak. Formed in 2009, the Carton Council works to divert cartons from landfill by building a sustainable infrastructure for carton recycling.